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Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Popular Hits, Level 2: Piano Book

$9.99 USD
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Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Popular Hits, Level 2 Cover Image
Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Popular Hits, Level 2: Piano Book

Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Popular Hits, Level 2: Piano Book

Arranged by Tom Gerou

Level: 2

Item: 00-44698
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Description
Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Popular Hits answers the often-expressed need for a variety of supplemental material in many different popular styles. Students can play attractive versions of the best-known music of today. This book is correlated page-by-page with Lesson Book 2 of Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course and Level 2 of Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course. When pieces from the Popular Hits books are assigned in conjunction with the material in the Lesson Books, new concepts are reinforced in a fun and motivating way, increasing the student's interest in piano study. Titles: As Time Goes By (from Casablanca) * At Last (Etta James) * Bring It On Home to Me (from Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2) * Embraceable You (George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin) * Everywhere You Look (Theme from Full House) * Fever (Peggy Lee) * Firework (Katy Perry) * Get Smart (from Warner Bros. Pictures' Get Smart) * Greatest Love of All (Whitney Houston) * Havana (Camila Cabello) * Hedwig's Theme (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) * The Magnificent Seven * The Man I Love (George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin) * Mia & Sebastian's Theme (from La La Land) * My Funny Valentine (Rodgers and Hart) * Princess Leia's Theme (from Star Wars) * They Can't Take That Away from Me (George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin) * The Wind Beneath My Wings (from Beaches) * You'll Be Back (from the Broadway musical Hamilton).

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 40
ISBN10: 1-4706-2734-5
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-2734-8
UPC: 038081508146
SKU: 00-44698

More about this title

About the Arranger: Tom Gerou

Tom Gerou

Tom Gerou has published over 160 works as a composer and author, establishing himself as a versatile voice in music education and composition. His catalog spans reference materials like the Essential Dictionary of Music Notation and Essential Dictionary of Orchestration alongside original compositions and arrangements that have become foundational resources in piano studios across North America and internationally. He holds degrees in composition from the University of Southern California and Yale University, and his work has earned recognition including two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for original theatrical music, a Morton Gould Young Composer Award, and multiple Rena Greenwald Awards.

Gerou's piano arrangements populate Alfred's comprehensive library of supplemental materials, from Popular Hits to Patriotic Solos and Top Hits. His teaching philosophy emphasizes accessibility without sacrificing musicality, crafting versions that engage adult learners while reinforcing foundational concepts. He has conducted workshops internationally, sharing his approach to arrangement and pedagogy with music teachers across the United States, Australia, Canada, Asia, and the Pacific region.

Why we love this

Gerou's arrangements strike an uncommon balance: they sound authentic to their sources while staying within the technical reach of early intermediate pianists. The repertoire spans decades and styles, from Gershwin standards to contemporary pop hits, which means students encounter genuine music history alongside current cultural references. Programming this book alongside Level 2 lessons creates natural motivation that transcends typical method-book exercises.

What to expect

Opening this book feels like discovering a bridge between the piano studio and the wider world of music you actually listen to. Each arrangement preserves the essence of beloved melodies from film, stage, and popular music while building technique naturally through playing rather than drilling.

Who it's for

Adult piano students working through Level 2 of Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course or the All-in-One curriculum who want to reinforce new technical concepts through familiar, engaging repertoire. This book appeals to learners who study piano for enjoyment and appreciate hearing recognizable music adapted to their current playing level.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the original recording before performing each arrangement to hear how phrasing and dynamics shape the melody; Gerou's writing often echoes these details in ways that reveal themselves through listening.
  • Pay special attention to how accompaniment patterns establish groove and style; these arrangements succeed when the left hand supports rather than overcomplicates the melody.
  • Work piece by piece rather than sight-reading the entire book at once, giving yourself time to absorb the character of each source material and the arrangement choices Gerou has made.

How to use it

Assign pieces from this book in direct correlation with Level 2 lessons to reinforce new technical elements through repertoire students recognize and enjoy. Use individual arrangements as recital pieces throughout the year, selecting titles that match student interests and the concert theme you're building.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading treble clef with leger lines and proper hand position for extended ranges
  • Executing consistent eighth-note and sixteenth-note rhythms in contemporary accompaniment patterns
  • Balancing melodic line with supporting left-hand accompaniment
  • Understanding how chord progressions support and color familiar melodies
  • Applying dynamic shaping and phrasing to convey musical character and style

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